The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) went ballistic over 5T secretary, VK Pandian’s frequent public meetings and announcement of welfare projects across several districts in Puri.
Going a step further, Opposition Chief Whip and BJP leader, Mohan Majhi ridiculed the State government by asking Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to hand over the power of attorney to Pandian and declare him CM in-charge or the Super Chief Minister of Odisha.
“A secretary-level employee doing public meetings and announcing projects on behalf of the Chief Minister is unconstitutional. The CM better give him the power-of-attorney and announce him (Pandian) the de-facto CM of Odisha,” said Majhi.
Fresh controversy erupted after BJD leader Prafulla Samal defended Pandian’s visits as a public representative and said that CM Naveen Patnaik cannot move around much and that is why his private secretary is visiting and doing welfare activities on his (CM’s) behalf.
Speaking to the reporters, Samal had said, “The Opposition is concerned with what Naveen Patnaik and his private secretary do. This is not a new thing. Secretaries have always visited places to supervise developmental works. Because Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cannot move too much, he sends his secretary for the same.”
To which, BJP's Bhubaneswar MP, Aparajita Sarangi was quick to reply, “Saw the response of Sri Prafulla Samal ji yesterday about Hon'ble CM's inability to move around in the State. We are concerned. Is this a serious matter? Why this inability? What has happened? People of Odisha would like to know the reason.”
The Congress too has opened a front against Pandian’s ‘political visits’ as well. Senior Congress MLA, Santosh Singh Saluja said, “People are confused over the statement of Samal. Chief Minister should come out and clarify if he is healthy and able to do official work.”
The BJD however, sent a stern reply to the Opposition over their demands. BJD MLA, Sudhir Samal even went on to term Prafulla Samal’s statement as the babble of an elderly leader. “Chief Minister is well and good. He is already on the move inaugurating many events and chairing meetings. CM is the government. He can delegate his powers to any Secretary to go to the public and take their grievances. There is nothing unconstitutional in that. What Prafulla Samal said about CM’s inability to move does not concern us. That might be a babbling of an elderly politician,” Sudhir Samal said.
Meanwhile, the BJP held a press conference on Monday and again targeted Pandian over his statement that CM sends him to the people to take their grievances. The BJP showed an RTI report in which the government has replied that there are no circulars or notices issued by the Chief Minister entitling the 5T secretary to review the files, or conduct review meetings of other departments. The RTI reply also does not have any information on the Chief Minister giving any special power to his OSD to do public hearings.
The BJP even alleged that the government does not have any information on Pandian’s visits by helicopter as well. It raised question that if the government did not pay for his helicopter rides, then who sponsored it?
It is pertinent to mention here that 5T Secretary, VK Pandian has been visiting several districts in the State and reportedly announcing welfare projects in the concerned areas despite the presence of public representatives.
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal criticised the 5T Secretary saying, "No govt employee can get involved in active politics as nobody is above the law. Nobody should cross the 'Laxman Rekha'. If anyone wants to do politics, he/she should quit the government job first."